The Transport Accident Commission (“The TAC”) retains a broad range of barristers in its role as a purchaser of legal services.

All barristers not currently performing TAC claims litigation work, who wish to accept work for the TAC, are required to put their request in writing to the TAC with a copy of their curriculum vitae.

The request will then be considered by the TAC’s Senior Manager Legal Branch or their delegate assisted by the Barrister Review Committee made up of nominated management representatives across the TAC (the Committee) at the next scheduled quarterly Barrister review meeting.

Within 7 days of that review meeting, a decision will be made and communicated to either the barrister and or his/her clerk.

The decision will be communicated in writing and will include the initial determined fee if the barrister is to undertake work on behalf of the TAC.

At this time the barrister will also be advised that they will be expected to act in accordance with the TAC’s Engagement of Claims Litigation Barrister Guidelines and any fee, performance and review guidelines which may apply from time to time.

A barrister already on the preferred list is expected to act in accordance with those guidelines as provided to that barrister’s clerk.

The TAC also reserves the right to approach a barrister, not on its list of preferred barristers, considered suitable to undertake its work in appropriate circumstances such as specialised expertise or change of availability or capacity of the preferred barrister list.

The TAC will review its Preferred Barrister List on an annual basis. Subject to the discretion of the Senior Manager Legal Branch any barrister on the list:

Who has not been briefed in the preceding 24 months will be removed from the list.

Whose performance has been assessed by the Committee having regard to feedback received as less than acceptable in the preceding 24 months will be removed from the list.

Expectations

Bankruptcy

In delivering a brief to a barrister it is a condition that in accepting the brief, a barrister is not and has not been declared bankrupt.

A barrister who has been declared bankrupt, and who has been the subject of an adverse disciplinary finding by a professional body in relation to the circumstances of that bankruptcy, is only to be engaged with the explicit approval of the Senior Manager Legal Branch.

Taxation

In delivering a brief to a barrister it is a condition that in accepting the brief, that barrister has complied with the Australian Taxation Office legislation and guidelines.

Model litigant

There is an expectation that barristers engaged by the TAC will act in accordance with the Revised Model Litigant Guidelines (2011).

Reputational risk

There is an expectation that a barrister will not engage in any conduct that could be perceived or is likely to damage the reputation of the TAC.

Timelines

The TAC expects that any brief for work should be carried out in a timely manner, unless the TAC is advised to the contrary within five working days of a barrister having received the brief.

Working Electronically

It is the expectation of the TAC that a barrister who accepts a brief on behalf of the TAC will be able to accommodate requests to work electronically

Accepting briefs

The TAC expects that a barrister will not, save in the case of circuit matters, and accept another brief for the same day/days as the TAC brief unless express approval is sought from the Senior Manager Legal Branch.

Code of Conduct

Exceptional cases

These guidelines may be varied by agreement between a barrister and his or her instructor in exceptional cases, with express permission of the Senior Manager, Legal Branch on instructions from the TAC.

Review of Guidelines

A review of these guidelines will be undertaken on an annual basis by Senior Manager, Legal Branch or as delegated.